Board approved awarding the $2.8M Big Dry Creek–Friant-Kern Canal turnout project to Nicholas General Engineering Contractors, funded largely by a $2.5M Fresno County ARPA grant (FID covers balance). Board also approved Vernon Drain structure replacement (~$330K). SGMA allocation work continues with initial agency figures nearing completion; well-registration enforcement policy expected Aug/Sept. Biola ribbon cutting celebration July 29.
Water deliveries may end mid-August or sooner, with August availability unknown until the July meeting. Staff discussed a new Tier 2 Class 2 offering of at least 2,745 acre-feet at about $165 per AF (vs. ~$25/AF Tier 1) and said FID may buy it to build a buffer if others decline. Southern Sierra snowpack is ~15% of normal; heat may raise demand.
Water season is underway with projections pointing to a late-July shutoff (August extension unlikely) as May 1 snowpack is ~22% of the April 1 average. The board approved a 5-year, 2,100 AF/yr water sale to Hills Valley at $850/AF (~$1.4M/yr). Staff said waiting until Apr. 1 could have triggered ~12,000 AF of FID spill.
March 2026 had zero precipitation — the driest in 104 years — leaving Southern Sierra snowpack near 25% of the April 1 average. Staff modeled a 65% April–July runoff scenario and warned late-summer entitlements could be very small. FID storage is in the upper 130,000 acre-foot range with supply projected through July. Grower meetings are scheduled April 22, 23, and 29 to discuss the season outlook.
The district imported 11,250 acre-feet of Class II water in January before that run ended February 3rd. Current snowpack at 51% of April 1 average raises the risk of a shortened 3-month delivery season starting in April or May instead of March if no additional precipitation. Invasive golden mussels detected in the Friant-Kern Canal may prompt added monitoring or restrictions on FID's pump-back operations between Kings River and Friant Canal systems.
